Dr. Pawlik is a marine invertebrate zoologist with research interests in marine chemical ecology and coral reef ecology. Recent work in his lab has focused on the functions of unusual organic compounds derived from Caribbean coral reef sponges and sea whips, particularly as defenses against predation, fouling, and overgrowth. He has an ongoing research program in the Florida Keys at Aquarius Reef Base/FIU studying the ecology of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta.